Machine for straightening and cutting wire



' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, J. W. GRISWOLD.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING WIRE- No. 420,509. Patented Feb.4, 1890 WITNESSES: l ,1 I

I L j (N0 Medel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. W. GRISWOLD.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND UUTTING WIRE.

No; 420,509. Patented Feb. 4, 1890.

ATTORNEY n. PETERS. Phnio-Ulbogwhar, Washington, 0. c,

UNITED STATES JOHN OOL GRIS\VOLD,

PATENT EErcE.

OF TROY, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING WIRE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,509, datedFebruary 4, 1 890.

Application filed July 26, 1889. Serial No. 318,758. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WOOL GRISVVOLD, of Troy, Rensselaer county, NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Cuttingand Straightening ire, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which operates tostraighten wire subsequent to annealing, and then to out said wire intomeasured lengths.

The invention consists in the construction of the machine described, andmore particularly in the mechanism for automatically operating thecutting devices, and the tubes of spiral coiled wire, which serve asconduits for the wire being acted upon during the passage of said wirebetween the straightening-wheels and the cutting apparatus, all as moreparticularly hereinafter set'forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on theline X X of Fig. 2, and Fig. at is a section on the line Y Y of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism, and Fig. 6 a faceview of the notched clutch-disk.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is a pier, of masonry or other solid support, to which is secured thetable B. The table B supports the feeding and straightening rolls, bymeans of which the wire is continuously moved toward the cutting device.The lower set of feeding and straightening rolls (not shown) are allfast upon the transverse shaft D, and are placed directly beneath theupper feeding-rolls Q. Said shaft D carries a pulley E, (dotted lines,)to which motion is communicated by the belt F. The shaft D is j ournaledupon the supports G, and from parallel frame-bars 1 1 rise verticalstandardsin sets of four, as H I J K, Fig. 2. Between the standards H Kand I J extend bars L L and longitudinal brace-bars L" L Fig. 1. Uponbars L L are formed upward projections M, and between said projections Mare secured, by set-screws N, bearing-blocks O for a short shaft P,which supports the upper feeding-rolls Q and Q. It will be understoodthat beneath this pair of upper feeding rolls there is a correspondingpair of lower m by the connecting-rods 0.

is a similar lever having eyes which surround the standards I and J. Onthe standards I and H or brace above the levers S S aretransverse pinsT. Pivoted to said levers and between the standards H K are blocks U,which bear upon projections or studs on the wheelbearings 0. At the endof each lever S S is suspended a weight, as V. At one extremity of theshaft D is a sprocketwheel a, around which passes the endlesssprocket-chain b. This chain is simply suspended from the pulley a. Uponsaid chain is fastened a stud c. Pivoted at 61 above the pulley a is alever e, which carries a roller f, which rests near the sprocket-wheela. The free end of the lever e is connected by a link 9 to an arm h ofthe shaft *6, which is journaled upon the table B.

Referring now to the cutting apparatus: From the frame N rise twostandards j Z, in which is journaled the transverse shaft m. Said shaftalso passes through a bearing k, which is supported on the bars 19 p",which extend between the standards j Z. 'n is a knife-bar, which issupported upon the shaft At the point where the shaft m is encircled bythe connecting-rods 0 said shaft is reduced in diameter, and iseccentric, as shown in section at 19, Fig. 3. Consequently when theshaft m is rotated the knifebar n is given a vertical or up-and-downmotion. The edges of the knife-bar n are received in fixed ways orguides q on each side of the machine. Se cured to the lower edge of theknife-bar n is the knife-blade 'n. Said blade is made in two parts, asshown, for convenience in handling. Bolted on the front sides of theguides q is a guide-bar orbrace 7', through which pass anumber ofcutting-dies s, secured in place by set-screws t, as shown in Fig. 4.Secured to the frame N in front of the guide-bar r is another guide-baru, in which are secured a number of split tube-sections n, which areplaced in line with the cutting-dies son the guide-baron The sections '0are secured in place in the guidebar a by set-screws w. Upon the shafton is a driving-pulley A, which is loose upon said shaft, but may becaused to transmit motion thereto by means of the clutch mechanismhereinafter described. Said clutch is operated by means of the verticalrod B which at its lower end has a hook C, Fig. 3, and into this hookenters the horizontal arm D of the bell-crank lever, which is supportedupon the shaft E, which is journaled transversely to the frame N. Theother arm F of the bell-crank lever is connected to an arm G on thetransverse shaft 1' by means of a link F".

Just in rear of each pair of feeding-wheels and upon the bar L arebolted slotted eyes or collars I, which receive the large end of tubesJ. These tubes are preferably made of coiled'spring wire. They extendthrough the split tubes 1), and are finally secured in the dies 8. Infront of each pair of feeding-rolls and upon their supportingframes, andadjustable horizontally thereon, are secured short tube-sections K K.

As a number of lengths of wire are operated upon at the same time, thefollowing description of the way in which one length passes through themachine and is operated upon is true of all: Let 0 represent 'one strandof wire to be cut. This strand is first passed through one of the shorttube-sections K, thence under an upper feeding-roll Q and between thatroll and its corresponding lower feeding-roll, thence through acoiled-wire tube J to the short tube-section v in the guide-bar a, andthence through die 3 in the guide-bar r; then under the knife-blade n,with its end resting upon the inclined table M, which is supported abovethe frame N, as shown in Fig. 1. The wheels Q, being pressed down by theweighted lever S, acting upon bearings O, forces the wire 0 into closecontact with the lower feeding-wheel, and the shaft D of said lowerfeeding-wheel being rotated the wire is drawn between said wheels and somoved rearwardly under the knife 01.. This rearward motion of the wirecontinues until the projection c on the endless chain Z) meets theroller f of the lever e, and thus raises said lever e. The effect ofraising the lover a is to vibrate the shaftz' through the links 9 andarms h, and through the arm G, link F, and bell-crank lever F D to drawdown the rod B and throw into operation the clutch, which causes thepulley A to rotate the shaft m. The effect of rotating the shaft on isto cause the knife n to descend upon the wire, cutting it, and thenimmediately to rise again. By this time the projection cwill have passedfrom under the lever e, and the clutch-fork f by the action of itsspring, have returned to its normal position for withdrawal of the key.Thus the shaft 01?. will be no longer rotated, and the knife or willremain in its uppermost or normal position. The operation of the machineis therefore continuous, the wire being uninterruptedly drawn throughthe feedingwheels and the knife being brought down at predeterminedintervals to out said wire into lengths. These lengths are determinedand regulated by the length of the sprocketehain b, as it will beobvious that only when the entire length of said chain has passed overthe sprocket-wheel the stud 0 acts upon the lever e to throw the knife ainto operation. modify the length of the chain Z) to correspond to thelengths into which it is desired to cut the wire. At the point where itis cut by the knife or the wire is supported in the dies 8.

The clutch mechanism as here shown is as follows: The inner face of thehub of pulley A is notched, as shown at a", Fig. The bottoms of thenotches are formed in removable steel pins b, so that wear may beprovided for. Arranged transversely of the pulley c on shaft m is asliding key or pin c which is normally pushed outwardly by a spring 6,Fig. 5. The pin, when it projects from the pulley c, enters and engageswith one of the notches a". f is a yoke on the end of rod B, whichenters the groove or channel in the periphery of pulley c and isreceived in a notch in the sliding key or pin c The efiect of pullingdown the rod B against the action of spring g is to allow the pin (1 tobe pushed out by its spring a to engage with the driving-pulley A.

The arrangement of the sprocket-wheel a, carrying the hanging endlessbelt I) on the shaft d, serves as a very convenient means of measuringthe wire passing through the rolls Q into definite lengths. It will beobvious that during the time that the stop 0 travels from a point-forexample, just above the shaft D back to the same point--the length ofwire which in that period will have been drawn through the rolls Q willbe exactly equal to the length of the endless chain or belt 1Consequently the chain Z1 forms a measuring apparatus which may be usedeven when the wire is not to be cut in definite lengths, but which willshow just when a deli- ,nite length of wire has passed through themachine by the return of the stop 0 to some fixed position. In such casethe stop 0 might be .simply regarded as an indicator; but in the presentmachine I have caused the stop a to lift the lever e, and thus, asalready explained, to control the movement of the intermittently-actingknife. Of course it will be obvious that I may connect the lever e toany kind of indicating mechanism-as to an ordinary counter-so that thenumber of lengths of wire passing between rolls might be thus recorded.I have shown the belt I) here made as a chain. It will be understoodthat I may lengthen or shorten said chain, as desired, by adding orremoving links, and thus It is necessary, therefore, simply to I mayregulate the individual lengths into which the wire will be out.

I olaim- 1. The combination, in a wire straightening and cuttingmachine, of a pair of rotary straightening and feeding rolls andintermittently-operating knife, a cutting-die, and a continuous flexiblesupport for the wire extending between said rolls and said knife, thewire operated upon being led between said rolls over said support andbetween said knife and said cutting-block, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a wire straightening and cutting machine, of apair of rotary straightening and feeding rolls and anintermittently-operating knife, a cutting-die, and a flexible tubularsupport for the wire extending between said rolls and said knife, thewire operated upon being led between said rolls through said tubularsupport and between said knife and said cutting-block, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, in a wire straightening and cutting macl1ine,of apair of rotary straightening and feeding rolls and anintermittently-operating knife, a cutting-die, and a flexible tubularsupport of spiral coiled wire extending between said rolls and saidknife, the wire operated upon being led between said rolls through saidtubular support and between said knife and said cutting-die,substantially as described.

4. The combination of apair of wire-receiving rolls, a pulley 011 one ofthe shafts of said rolls, an endless belt on said pulley, a stop on saidbelt, an independently-supported movable arm or lever above saidpulley,acuttingblade, a cutting-die, and transmitting mechanism betweensaid lever and said blade, the said lever being displaced when said stopis carried between said pulley and said lever and through saidtransmitting mechanism to control the operation of said blade,substantially as described.

5. The. combination of the rotary shaft D and roll thereon the independently-supported ,roll Q in contact with said first-named roll,

pulley a on shaft D, belt Z), having stop c, pivoted lever 6 above saidpulley a, a knife, a cutting die or block, mechanism for Verticallyreciprocating said knife, and transmitting mechanism between said levere andsaid reciprocating mechanism, the aforesaid parts operating andarranged so that when the lever (2 is lifted by said stop a saidreciprocating mechanism shall be set in operation and said knife shallmove downwardly to cut a strand of wire passing between said rolls andthen between said knife and said cuttingblock, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination of the rotary shaft D and roll thereon, theindependently-supported roll Q in contact with said first-named roll,pulley a 011 shaft D,belt I), having stop 0, pivoted lever 6 above saidpulley a, a knife 12 n, a cutting die or block 8, eccentric shaft m, conuecting-rods 0 between said shaft and said knife, loose driving-pulleyA, a clutch mechanism between said pulley A and shaft m, and connectingmechanism between said lever e and said clutch, the aforesaid partsoperating and arranged so that when thelever eis lifted by said stop 0said clutch will be operated to connect said pulley A and shaft m, andthereby cause a downward movement of said knife to cut a strand of wirepassing between said rolls and then between said knife and said

